Socialite Sues Sydney Restaurant Over 'Disastrous' Wedding

The bride and groom on their "disastrous" wedding day. Photo: SuppliedSource:Whimn

A legal battle is brewing between a swanky Sydney restaurant and a reality TV star’s sister over what she claims was a “disappointing” wedding reception.

Nora Miller Gazal, who is the sister of former Miss Australia and The Real Housewives of Sydney’sNicole Gazal O’Neil, allegedly spent $100,000 on her dream wedding at Rose Bay’s Catalina restaurant in February.

But according to the Sydney Morning Herald, the event didn’t go to plan, with the bride suing the waterfront restaurant for $53,266.20 in damages — with $23,711.20 pertaining to the reception’s food.

The socialite, who is part of the millionaire Gazal clan, described her and husband Michael Milling’s special day as nothing short of “disastrous”.

Nicole told news.com.au that it has been “a very stressful time, under awful circumstances and we have nothing else to say, other than what was in the statement of claim”.

According to the bride’s statement of claim, she alleges that less than 20% of the amount of food she had bought was served, and of that a further quarter of it was “cold and inedible”.

Owner of the family-run restaurant, Judy McMahon added: “All I can say is we are vigorously defending all aspects of the case.”

Fairfax reported that a team of florists, stylists, electricians and event managers led by sister Nicole, who has her own events styling business, had to work among diners still enjoying their dessert at lunchtime.

A wedding guest reportedly said: “She was devastated by it … the whole thing was a disaster, from the time they tried to bump-in and people were still eating dessert, to when the power went out in the middle of dinner. The airconditioning died … we were all sweating, even the wedding cake started melting.”

“They ended up calling a hot dog truck to feed the 250 guests. A hot dog truck! I mean, can you imagine? Hot dogs in a carpark on a stinking hot February night, it wasn’t the wedding they had hoped for.”

According to Fairfax, Catalina denied allegations it had agreed to “any requirements or requests” that the Gazals could have “full, sole and unrestricted access to the premises” to “bump in” from 5pm, with the reception due to kick off at 7pm.

Catalina also denied it had “implied” that it would “provide fully functioning airconditioning and electricity” throughout the reception, held on February 24, when temperatures soared to 33 degrees.

Miller Gazal has only expressed her displeasure at the Rose Bay restaurant, despite her sister Nicole being responsible for making sure her wedding day looked perfect.